New Music Critique: Scott Cook

With a musical metabolism all his own, laidback Canadian Scott Cook has a disarming honesty, a genuinely humanistic soul bordering on innocence that is hard to resist. A perfect example is “Dogs and Kids” in which the artist observes humbly, “I’m a better person hangin’ with dogs and kids.” It’s plainspoken, homespun and, well, nice. And while Cook brings an engaging simplicity, he and his cohorts can definitely pick, turning in adroit acoustic performances that keep the home fire crackling. “Your Sweet Time” conjures an intimate, group-singalong vibe, while the humorous anti-macho tune “Get Out The Way” is Cook’s good-natured plea for female leadership. Book ‘im, folks.